Senior Communication and Advocacy Officer, MENA region based in Beirut. Position is open to National Staff Only

Job Announcement:

Terre des hommes - Lausanne is seeking a qualified Senior Communication and Advocacy Officer, MENA region based in Beirut.  Position is open to National Staff Only.

Job Purpose / Main Functions:

The Regional Communication and Advocacy Officer is a key player in the development of Terre des hommes communication strategy and advocacy objectives at the regional level.

Reporting directly to the MENA Operations Manager at headquarters, her/his primary responsibilities include raising awareness of Tdh's initiatives, supporting advocacy efforts, and ensuring Tdh's visibility and influence in various forums and with key stakeholders such as government authorities, donors, and partner organizations. It involves:

• Developing a comprehensive communication strategy tailored to the MENA region, including a detailed Action Plan and update that annually;
• Developing an advocacy plan specific to the MENA region, addressing regional priorities and leading advocacy initiatives accordingly. Provide leadership for communications activities in the MENA region and act as a liaison between HQ and field offices on communication matters;
• Provide guidance to the regional and country offices, support strategic projects, ensure consistency of communications across the region and alignment with Tdh’s global communication strategy

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Communication content production and Strategy Development:

• Develop and implement the MENA communication strategy and plan of production; conducting quarterly reviews for refinement
• Lead the production of the MENA annual report with support from HQ, using data provided by delegations.
• such as news articles, success stories, case studies and testimonials tailored to different stakeholders (staff, donors, community members, government officials, etc.).
• Maintain and update the organization's social media platforms, ensuring regular content updates and effective content management by collecting images from MENA delegations on a weekly basis.
• Conduct assessments of communications activities and needs at the portfolio, regional and country levels.
• Visit MENA delegations for key events, strategic assignments, data collection and interviews when possible.
• Coordinate closely with all contracted suppliers (designers, video production, photographers, etc.)
• Raise the region's profile by actively developing and publishing materials in line with Tdh's local, regional and global objectives.
• Create and maintain a digital library for MENA delegations, centralizing photos, videos and other content.

2. Country Offices, Regional and HQ support:

• Actively participate as necessary and when requested by the delegation in the organization of media and donor visits or other high-visibility events as required.
• Support the visibility of key events and participate in internal/external coordination forums as requested by the supervisor.
• Provide technical support and guidance to MENA delegations, especially those without a communications officer.
• Facilitate capacity building and mentoring of staff in the communication teams.
• Create a communication package for the delegations with layouts for basic graphic design translated and adapted to the MENA context.
• Ensure that local activities are in line with Tdh's global communication strategy.
• Contribute to Tdh's global annual report and other publications.
• Work with the HQ Communication team to increase the visibility of Tdh's work in MENA.
• Serve as communication liaison between HQ and delegations/country offices.
• Coordinate translation work for the MENA region with service providers.

3. Campaign and advocacy:

• Develop an advocacy plan and contribute to in coordinating with other INGOs and forums in drafting joined advocacy statements
• Support delegations in the creation and development of an advocacy plan tailored to the needs and priorities of each delegation.
• Support the positioning of Tdh as a leading Swiss child relief organization and increase its international visibility.
• Create donor and child-focused communications that showcase Tdh's technical expertise and experience
• Develop media representation and networking to strengthen Tdh's advocacy efforts.

A professional sense of security, confidentiality, and proper representation is paramount. The incumbent will conduct her/his duties in respect of the Charter of Terre des hommes and Tdh Child Safeguarding Policy. Terre des hommes expects that its contractors’ professional conduct reflects proper behaviour in accordance with local culture and traditions. The incumbent assures the moral protection of the name of Terre des hommes and defends in all circumstances the interests of the movement.

4. Tdh Safeguarding policies :

• Commit to respect and ensure the best implementation possible of Tdh Safeguarding Policy, its related procedure, and principles of child protection in all the settings, including the non-working related ones;  
• Be clear on the functional responsibilities to prevent harm / safeguard children, communities, and colleagues both through own conduct and work;  
• Commit to inform the Safeguarding Focal Point and to report any cases of allegations, or possibility of transgression, even potential, of the Safeguarding Policy. 
• Respect the principles of confidentiality, protection, good faith, and non-reprisal in all interactions with children and communities and in the communication, materials produced; 
• Apply the best interest of children and people principle prior to writing, producing, and publishing any sort of communication material about the children and communities participating in Tdh Lebanon and partners’ programme;  
• Always ensure to take the written consent of guardians and children prior to engaging in any form of communication with beneficiaries;  
• Be a good ambassador for safeguarding and promote good practice.

Job requirements:

Education / Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Communication/Journalism/Broadcasting or any related course is required;

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in similar position with another NGO is
• preferred or equivalent position related to media and advocacy
• Expertise in collecting and writing human interest stories
• Experience in communication with donors and good understanding of donor
• visibility/guidelines
• Familiarity with Child protection terminologies and safeguarding policies
• Field experience with a multicultural background
• Experience of advocacy

Personal, Social and Leadership Competencies (PSLC)

• Self-management: manages oneself, time and priority, shows flexibility, availability and adaptability. Self-developing, identifies and expresses developmnent.
• Communication and interaction: communicates in a clear, concise, responsible and constructive way. Listens actively. Shows negotiation skills.
• Teamwork: ability to work on team building. Shows solidarity. Cooperates to achieving goals. Supports and advises colleagues. Uses a collaborative attitude within and outside the department. Creates trust.
• Mission orientation: respects and represents the values and mission of Tdh and contributes to it. Acts in tdh interest.

Technical and Methodological Competencies (TMC)

• Respect for the institutional framework: knows and respects Tdh working framework, and applies the business management policies. Reports any incidents or violations. Applies security guidelines.
• Innovation & Development: stays informed on any innovation in the field of work, contributes to their development, shares into good practices. Shares knowledge and helps to develop colleagues

Organizational Competencies:

Personal, Social and Leadership Competencies (PSLC):

• Self-management: Manages oneself, time and priority, shows flexibility, availability and adaptability. Self-developing, Identifies and expresses development needs.
• Communication and interaction: Communicates in a clear, concise, responsible way and constructive way. Listens Actively. Shows Negotiation Skills. Manages conflict constructively.
• Teamwork: Shows solidarity. Cooperates to achieving goals. Supports and advises colleagues. Uses a collaborative attitude within and outside the department. Creates Trust.
• Mission orientation: Respects the values defined, Courage, Ambition, Respect and Commitment. Represents the Mission of Tdh and contributes to it. Acts in the interest of Tdh.

Technical and methodological competencies (TMC) :

• Respect for the institutional framework: Knows and respect Tdh working  framework. Knows and applies the business management policies. Reports any incidents or violations. Applies security guidelines.
• Innovation & Development: Stays informed on any innovation in the field of work, contributes to their development, shares into good practices. Shares Knowledge and helps to develop colleagues.
• Quality, Monitoring & Reporting: Selects, analyses and manages information, produces high quality reports, respects reporting guidelines. Collects necessary information for professional activities and monitors self-tasks and goals.
• Language & Computer skills: Masters language that are useful for the job. Masters tools and application that are activity specific: Computer Literacy

Tdh Foundation, Lausanne has a zero tolerance to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of beneficiaries.  Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) is everyone’s responsibility and all staff are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct, that enshrines principles of PSEA, always (both during work hours and outside work hours).  Familiarization with, and adherence to, the Code of Conduct is an essential requirement of all staff.